Baluster-railing construction



A. s. HUGHES. BALUSTER RAILING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 192!- Patntedl m 23, 1922 WIITNE slzs ATTORNEY baluster bars to the rails.

ARTHUR SHERIDAN HUGHES, 0F MA]? SHIELD, filitilfl.

BALUSIER-RAILING- GONSTEUCTIUIM.

intense.

Application filed May 26, 1921.

upper and lower rails, it has been necessary heretofore to miter the end of the baluster bars so that these ends would conform to the rake or angle o't the stair stringer. it was then necessary to drill and tap each end of the bar andiurthermore to internally thread the drilled opening. Screws passing through the spaced openings in the rails and engaging; with the threads otthethreaded opening in the ends oi the baluster bars termed a wealr and unreliable way of securing;- the balustcr bars to the rails. It was necessary also to saw or mill the ends oi. the bars in order to neatly lit them to the rails.

A n object of the iTlVGl'llllUU is to provide a new and improved means for ilie stening' the Another object of the invention to provide a new andimproved ii astening means tor the baluster bars which permits of :1 vertical adjustment ot the bars.

Arnother object oi? the invention is to provide a new and improved reinforced means for securing the baluster bars to the rails.

it. still. further object oi the invention is to provide a new and improved tastening means whereby openings punched in the web of the rails are adapted to admit the ends o'l' the haluster hars,the said ends being secured to parallel metal strips which are in turn secured to the flanges of the rails.

The invention further contemplates a new and improved means of securing the ends of the baluster bars by which fewer parts and less work is required to construct a rail.- ing. since the bars may he sheared off instead of being milled or sawed.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding,

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented lliiay Serial No. 472,787.

however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing; but may be changed and modified so long: as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as ex pressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing z- Fig. 1 is side elevation of a the baluster railing.

lllg. 2 1s a plan view of the upper or lower rail showing the baluster bars secured to the same.

F 3 is a transverse section of the rail along the line 83 of Fig. 2, showing my improved means oi fastening the bars to the rails.

Fig. t is a section taken along the line 4- l oi Fig. 2. showingz'1. baluster bar passing through an openin in the web oi? the rail.

section of Fig. 5 is a plan. View and Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing a further modification of the invention.

In. the drawings 1 and 2 designate. re spectively upper and lower ll-shaped rails. Each rail comprises a web 3 and depending flanges 4; having; squared openings 5 punched in the web at s11 accd intervals. The opposite ends (5 ot the bars are adapt-- .ed to be inserted. through the openings 111 the webs 3 oil? the superposed rails 1.. and 2. Spaced parallel strips 8 are secured to the opposite ends 6 of the baluster bars 7 by means of rivets 9 passing through the perforations 10 in the ends oi the baluster bar 7. and the spaced. strips 8 are secured to the side flanges of the rails 1 and 2 by means oi? screws 11 passing; through the countersunk perforations 12 in the side flanges 4- oi the rails l and 2 and screwed into a threaded opening; 1? in the spaced strips 8. lnstead oi" screws. he spaced strips 8 may be secured to the flanges oi the rails by means oi spot welding.

in constructing the baluster railing, the required number of baluster ears 7 are inserted through the perforations 5 ol. the webs 3 of the top and bottom rails, and the binding; strips or spaced strips 8 are applied to the ends of the bars. When the rake oi the railing is adjusted to the bevel desired, then the binding strips are firmly secured to the top and bottom rails by the rivets 9.

The rails are then pushed out wardly and away from each other until they are seated on the binding strips 8, when the screwsll are inserted in the proper openings and driven home to firmly secure the binding strips or spaced bars 8 to the rails.

t will be seen that a baluste'r railing is provided; which permits or an adjustment to accommodate the railing; to the bevel. or rake of any stair stringer. inserting the ends oi? the haluster bars through the squared openings in the webs of the rails, the full surface of the ends of the baluster bars will coact with the top and bottom rails, and not only will prevent the baluster bars from loosening'but will prevent them from turning. It will obviously be seen that by this construction strength and rigi lity secured.

The baluster bars 7 are cut in proper lengths and perforated at their ends; the rails are cut in proper lengths; square openings are punched at spaced intervals in the webs of the rails; andthe binding" strips 8 are cut in proper lengths. All these members may be stored for future use or may be tied in bundles for shipping. By reason of the simple construction, it will be seen that the railing may be readily assembled from these parts.

The upstanding flanges of the top rail are adapted to be closed by a mounting or. finishing generally used for this purpose, as by semi-circular strips of wood in order to present a finished surface.

It will he understood that in some constructions it may be advisable to have only one U-shaped rail and that one placed at the top, the ends of the vertical bars heinn' secured at the botton'r in a cement or other foundation, as shown in Fig. 7 thus dispensing with the lower rail, and I wish the following claims to have this interpretation.

In Figs. 5 and (i, there is shown a moditied form in which the straight strips 8 are replaced by angle strips. the parts being cured together in precisely the same way as in the other form.

Whatis claimed is 2- 1. In a baluster railing construction, the combination of a plurality o't spaced rails placed in superposed relation and provided with a plurality of spaced openings, a plurality o't spaced parallel vertical bars, the euids of each bar passing through oppositely disposed openings in the rails, parallel strips secured on opposite sides of the bars, and means tor securingthe strips to'the sides of the rails.

2. In a baluster railing construction, the combination of a plurality oi spaced parallel U-shaped rails placed in superposed relation and provided with a plurality of spaced openings, a plurality of spaced parallel ver tical bars, the ends of each bar passing through the openings in the rails. parallel stripsse'eured-Jto the ends of the bars, and

in the means for securing the strips to the inner sides of the flanges ot the rails.

In a baluster railing construction. the combination of a plurality of spaced parallel U-shaped rails placed in superposed relation and provided with a plurality oi" spaced o trsnings a plurality of spaced parallel strips located within the rails a plurality' of spaced parallel vertical bars. the ends ol' each bar passing between and adjustably secured to the strips. and means tor securing said strips to the rails.

4C. In a baluster railing;- construction, the combination oi? a plurality of spaced parallel. flanged rails provided with a plurality of spaced openings, a plurality of spaced bars, the ends of each bar passing; through openings in the rails spaced arallel strips socured to the opposed tacos oi the bars. and means for securing the strips to the flanges of the rails.

5. In a haluster railing construction. lhe combination oi spaced rails comprising a web and flanges extending therefrom, the open flanged portions of said rails being disposed in opposite directions. a plurality ot openings formed in the webs of each rail, and spaced bars having their opposite ends inserted in the opposed openings in the flanged rails. and means secured to the ends of the spaced bars. said means being localcd within the flanged rails and secured to the flanged portions of said rails.

(3. In a baluster railing construction. the combination of spaced rails comprising webs and thing es extending: thcrelroin. a plurality of openings lorined in the webs. the openings o't one'weh being in aline ient with the openinns in the other web. bars having their opposite ends inserled in th: alincd opcniugrs webs. and means tor securing the ends of the brrs to the rails, said means coniprising; parallel strips arranged within the rails and riveted to the cnds oi the bars. and means tor securino the strips to the llang'cs oi" the rails.

7. The combination oil a U-shaped rail provided with a plurality of spaced openings, a plurality of spaced bars, the ends of which are passed through said openings, parallel strips arranged within the U-shaped rail on each side oi said bars and secured to the ends of said bars. and means for securing the strip to theu ides ol -the U-shaped rail. 7

8. The combination ol a U-shapcd rail provided with a p urality of spaced openings, a plurality of spaced bars. the ends of wh ch are passed through said openings, parallel st ips of angular form arranged within the Ushaped rail and secured to the ends of said'hars. and means tor securing the strips to the sides ot the U-shapcd rail.

in testimony that claim the foregoing: as in own. i have he I liillXli no; signature.

ARTHUR tillElllDi-rh l'l Ucll'lES. 

